The Outlander, a novel by Gil Adamson, is a riveting novel that takes place in the Canadian West, 1903.
Mary Boulton, 19, runs for her life, her former brothers-in-law hot on her trail. She is now a widow, an act of her own doing, and her brothers-in-law are determined to avenge their younger brother’s death.
Mary flees her home, fearful at every turn that her pursuers are close behind. Finally, she’s given shelter by a wealthy widow. Although not ideal, it is at least a place to hide. But then the brothers-in-law are at her doorstep and she must again run. In her anxiety to get away quickly, she steals a horse.
Travel is faster now, but still fraught with danger, and soon the horse wanders away at night, and she is on foot again, struggling through rough forest without adequate clothing or food. A Crow Indian encounters Mary and takes her to the closest town, Frank. A rough mining town, Frank is surrounded by mountains. Mary eventually proves herself useful at the town’s trading post and begins to relax and enjoy some comfort. She is always on the lookout for her pursuers and can never fully forget her tenuous position. But then nature rears its head and a giant landslide almost buries the town, killing many of its inhabitants.
The brothers-in-law haven’t given up seeking their revenge; they relentlessly pursue what they perceive as justice.
The Outlander is a spell-binding novel, beautifully crafted. The rugged outdoor scenes are stunning. Wilderness can be unforgiving, and it takes a certain kind of person to endure that type of hardship. The author does a fine job of putting the reader into raw wilderness. I was impressed with descriptions of the conditions of the day: their living situations, food, and priorities. After reading this novel, I learned that the Frank Slide, in southern Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass, was an actual massive rockslide that in 1903 buried part of the mining town of Frank, killing between 70 and 90 people. Although fiction, The Outlander does a remarkable job of describing this actual occurrence.